NEW YORK — The Toronto Maple Leafs are the first NHL team worth US$1-billion, according to Forbes magazine.

The Leafs, who have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967, are worth $250-million more than the next most valuable franchise, the New York Rangers. The Montreal Canadiens are worth $575-million.

The Chicago Blackhawks ($350-million), Boston Bruins ($348-million) and Detroit Red Wings ($346-million) round up the top six, meaning the league’s six original franchises are also its most valuable.

The Vancouver Canucks are the next Canadian team on the list, in seventh at $342-million. The Calgary Flames are in 12th at $245-million, the Edmonton Oilers are ranked 14th at $225-million, the Ottawa Senators 16th at $220-million and the Winnipeg Jets 20th at $200-million.

The Jets saw their value jump after their first full season in Winnipeg. Forbes valued the franchise at $164-million last year and at $135-million in 2010, before the team moved north.

Least valuable of the 30 teams are the St. Louis Blues at $130-million and the Phoenix Coyotes at $134-million.

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Forbes says the NHL’s total revenues were $3.4-billion for the 2011-12 season. Fuelled by that nine per cent increase, the average NHL team is worth $282-million, 18% more than a year ago.

With the players locked out by owners, the NHL already has cancelled 422 regular-season games. Forbes reports that 13 teams lost money last season.

The Leafs, Rangers (last Stanley Cup in 1994) and Canadiens (last title in 1993) account for 83% of the league’s income, with Toronto the most profitable franchise at $81.9-million, followed by the Rangers at $74-million and Montreal at $51.6-million.